Formulation, Optimization and Characterization of Spanlastic Nanocarriers for Enhanced Dermal Delivery of Α-Tocopheryl Acetate

Resumen

Purpose: This study aimed to make and perfect spanlastic nanocarriers filled with α-tocopheryl acetate to enhance its spread on the skin. Vitamin E acetate or rather alpha-tocopheryl acetate is a potent antioxidant that is mostly found in cosmetics. It is not easily penetrable due to the high levels of oil in its composition. To help with this, researchers created flexible nanovesicles. These little guys boost penetration and retention on the skin, which in turn amplifies the antioxidant benefits. Materials and Methods: α-Tocopheryl acetate-loaded spanlastic nanocarriers were made utilizing Tween 80 as the edge activator together with Span 60 as the Surfactant that is not ionic in ethanol injection method. We used a 3² factorial design to figure out the best formulation by looking at how the drug and the ratio of Span 60:Tween 80 concentration affected vesicle characteristics. We analyzed particle size, drug concentration, zeta potential, efficiency of entrapment, and polydispersity index , pH, viscosity, and deformability index. To test compatibility, we did Infrared spectroscopy using the Fourier transform and differential scanning calorimetry. Also, we ran the DPPH radical scavenging assay to see antioxidant activity. Also, we set up a Franz diffusion cell with a hydrated egg membrane for ex vivo penetration tests. Results: The optimized formulation had a 84.6% entrapment efficiency and 95.1% drug content, with a pH of 5.85 and viscosity of 373,000 cP, and a deformability index of 3.19. It went from 3217.3 nm to 126.3 nm after the 100 nm sieve filter, proving its great elasticity.We also noted an average particle size of 3217.3nm and zeta potential −22.6 mV for the optimized spanlastics. To boot, the FTIR and DSC analyses revealed that the drug was encapsulated nicely, without any bad interactions with excipients.To highlight its other amazing properties, this formulation doubles as a potent antioxidant, zapping 70% of DPPH radicals. During ex vivo permeation tests, it ramped up α-tocopheryl acetate penetration to 82.4% in only six hours, up from 42.6% for the unmodified drug solution. Conclusion: The developed α-tocopheryl acetate-loaded spanlastic nanocarriers exhibited high drug entrapment, excellent deformability, skin-compatible pH and superior ex vivo permeation performance. The enhanced permeation and retention characteristics show that spanlastics are a promising nanovesicular system of carriers for the effective dermal supply of α-tocopheryl acetate in topical antioxidant and cosmeceutical applications.